Researchers from the Stenosis Therapy and Anti-Fibrotic Research (STAR) consortium have made significant progress in treating Crohn's disease-related intestinal strictures, publishing a study in Radiology that introduces reliable MRI and CT imaging methods to measure these strictures.

This advancement is crucial for developing medical therapies for complications that often require surgery.

Intestinal strictures, caused by fibrosis, muscular thickening, and inflammation, frequently lead to bowel obstructions in Crohn's disease patients. The lack of objective tools to assess these strictures has hindered the development of antifibrotic treatments.

The STAR consortium, comprising researchers from Alimentiv Inc., Cleveland Clinic, and Mayo Clinic, and supported by The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, has demonstrated that MRI and CT imaging can consistently measure and characterize intestinal strictures.

These methods are now available for clinical use, supporting patient eligibility for trials and monitoring treatment effectiveness.

In addition to imaging, the consortium is exploring the genetic and molecular factors behind stricture formation and validating a patient-reported outcome tool to assess therapy success.

Their work is seen as a critical step toward establishing standards and biomarkers for Crohn's disease and developing effective treatments.

The research is expected to accelerate the creation of antifibrotic drugs, reduce the need for surgeries, and improve patient care.

The STAR consortium continues to collaborate with regulatory bodies, pharmaceutical companies, and medical societies to enhance treatment outcomes for Crohn's disease patients.

 

Source: prnewswire.com

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